Search

“Putting it in Neutral” is a nostalgically outmoded way of slowing a car. Coasting. Stopping. Parking. Responding with hands-on immediacy. Driving with a stick requires focus, finesse and thought. It’s straightforward. No frills. Fun. It puts you in control. Forget cellphones, MP3 players or eating breakfast. Driving with manual gears requires your full attention.

Just how “automatic” crept in and took over cars is unclear. Some call it easier, more convenient. But is it beneficial to lose the nuances of being the one in control? To be so easily distracted by 10 other things when you’re trying to accomplish one? Some of us are naturally better multi-taskers than others, but it’s not essential in everything we do. Maybe the real trick is to “single-task”. Resist the sometimes sneaky complexity of what is presented as “automatic”. No offense, of course, to those who revere an automatic transmission! Once you switch, it’s truly hard to go back…

Shifting gears (pun intended), imagine you’re considering decorating a room or two in your home. Maine Cottage is a furniture company afterall. How about taking the stick shift approach to your project? Deliberate and focused. One thing at a time. And if it’s simplicity and nuance you’re hankering for, then consider limiting your choice of styles and colors as we’ve shown in this post. These colors (mostly quite “neutral” in tone) are intended to express the spirit of “the big idea”, but personal preference is the rule. Simplify is the sentiment.

Less visual complexity makes a space easy and elegant. Subtle colors can have the same uplifting appeal as the reds we’ve presented this week. An interplay that is both warm and cool. A focus that’s further enhanced by a visual variety of rich, understated textures (ie: fabric, bedding, pillows, window treatments, rugs and various accessories). Thoughtfully handpicked and placed by you to create a unified composition. Not 10 different competing ideas, but one that resonates with singular clarity. Pleasingly your very own. This is overdrive. Let the coasting begin.